Golf putting training aid with glide rail

ABSTRACT

A golf swing training apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a base, at least one curved rail attached to the base, a carriage movably attached to the curved rail; and a fastener having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the carriage, and the second end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage a golf club.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/657,473, filed 1 Mar. 2005; U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/643,914, filed 10 Jan. 2005; and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/632,299, filed 1 Dec. 2004, all three of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a training device for the game of golf and more particularly to a training device for assisting a golfer in practicing and improving golf putting skills.

BACKGROUND

In the game of golf, a large proportion of a golfer's total score comes from putting the golf ball. In an 18-hole round of golf, if a player can make the ball into the cup with an average of only 2 putts per green, putting will still account for 36 strokes of the total score. That's exactly half of par for a par-72 course. In contrast, in that same 18-hole round of golf, driving from the tee box will always account for only 18 strokes of the total score (for both professionals and amateurs alike). Thus the old adage “drive for show, putt for dough [e.g. money],” is clearly true. Many are the weekend golfers and would-be professional golfers who can drive the ball a prodigious distance, with good accuracy, only to have their scores balloon due to poor putting skills. Therefore, a crucial part of the game of golf, for amateurs and professionals alike, is to master a natural, consistent, accurate, and precise putting stroke. A successful putting stroke reproducibly directs the ball along the path intended by the golfer. A successful putting stroke imparts a smooth forward spin to the ball, the spin following the path of travel of the ball. In short, the putting stroke of every successful golfer shares one common denominator: the stroke quite literally rolls the ball smoothly into the cup.

The prior art is replete with different putting stroke training devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,669 describes a golf practice putting track contoured to follow a putter head during a putting stroke. The track includes a pair of rails which may be adjusted with respect to each other, insuring that the putter maintains a straight path. U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,077 describes an electronic target alignment system using a mirror and reflected light to ensure that the angle of the putter face remains square during the execution of a stroke. U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,282 describes a putting system using a practice insert which ensures that the ball is hit precisely on its center.

In other devices, two parallel golf clubs or parallel sticks are placed roughly in parallel with a space for a golf putter head to be placed between the clubs or sticks. The clubs or sticks are then aimed toward the practice ball cup. The golfer practices stroking the golf ball toward the ball cup with the clubs or sticks being used as an alignment guide.

However, each of these training devices has disadvantages. For instance, these training devices give the golfer ample room for error, thus teaching the golfer an incorrect or improper putting stroke. Still other training devices teach poor muscle movement, leaving the golfer dependent on the training device. Thus, a need exists for a simple and easy to use putting aid that helps a golfer master a proper and consistent putting stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a golf swing training apparatus. The apparatus comprises a base, at least one curved rail attached to the base, and a carriage movably attached to the curved rail. The invention further comprises, in combination, a fastener having a first end and a second end. The first end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the carriage, and the second end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage a golf club.

The carriage preferably comprises a substantially hollow cylinder dimensioned and configured to movably engage at least a portion of the curved rail. The first end of the golf club fastener preferably comprises a magnet and releasably engages the carriage (and/or the golf club) via magnetic forces. Alternatively, the golf club fastener may releasably engage the carriage and putter using connectors, such as hook-and-loop type connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan schematic view of an idealized putting stroke

FIG. 2 is a front elevation schematic view of an idealized putting stroke

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the swing trainer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the swing trainer according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view as shown in FIG. 5, with the addition of a golf club 30.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the rail 14 and carriage 16.

FIG. 8 is another cutaway view of the rail 14 and carriage 16, showing a ball-bearing assembly disposed within the carriage.

FIG. 9 is yet another cutaway view of the rail 14 and carriage 16, showing a fastener disposed on the carriage.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the head of a putter (the shaft has been omitted for clarity) attached to a fastener.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation cross-section of a putter operationally linked to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the swing trainer according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front elevation cross-section of a putter operationally linked to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the swing trainer according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the body 60 of the third embodiment, showing the channels 62 formed therein.

FIG. 16 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the body 60 of the third embodiment, showing the channels 62 formed therein, and the carriage 16 with its posts 64 disposed inside the channels.

FIG. 17 is flow chart illustrating how to use the invention, either using a golf ball or without a golf ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The putting motion of all successful golfers follows a very distinct, very natural path. Perhaps the most pervasive misconception in all of golf is that this ideal putting path is a straight-backward and straight-forward motion in which the arc followed by the putter head is perfectly perpendicular to the plane of the ground. On extremely short putts, this may in fact be the case: the putter head generally follows a straight-backward, straight-forward path. But this is only because for extremely short putts, the arc traveled by the putter head is equally short. However, close examination of the putting strokes of a vast majority of professional golfers reveals that when executing a putt of any appreciable distance, the putter head follows an arc that is tilted toward the golfer's body. That is, if the path followed by the putter head is extended into a full circle, the plane of that circle is not perpendicular to the plane of the ground (which would be the result of a straight-backward, straight-forward putting stroke). Rather, the plane of the arc followed by the putter head is tilted toward the golfer.

The tilted arc path traveled by the putter head in the putting strokes of accomplished golfers is a natural result of how the human body is constructed—when addressing a golf ball to make a putt, the shoulders naturally tend to swing in a pendulum motion centered around the spine, while the head stays motionless, thereby causing the two arcs of the putting stroke discussed herein. The resulting compound motion moves the putter head in an arc that is tilted toward the golfer's body. This motion is easily confirmed by a very simple demonstration: With a putter in hand, face a straight wall with the toe of the putter almost touching the base of the wall and go through the motion of making a long, relaxed putt. The toe of the club will withdraw a significant distance from the wall during both the backswing and during the follow-through. A straight-back, straight-through putting motion can be achieved only by unnaturally limiting the arc that the putter head naturally wants to follow (e.g., by pushing the hands away from the body during the backswing and follow-through). It is this unnatural limitation of the putter head path in the straight-back, straight-through putting motion that renders this type of stroke inferior to the natural putting motion shared by successful professional golfers. When the natural path of the putter head is unnaturally limited (as it is in the straight-back, straight-through putting motion) the ability to “groove” the putting stroke (that is, to engrain a consistent and consistently good putting stroke), is seriously compromised.

The true ideal arc that the putter head should follow is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2. For purposes of brevity, the remaining discussion is for a right-handed golfer. FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the “inward arc” path followed by the putter head. This is essentially the view seen by the golfer as he addresses the ball to putt. The broken line 100 designates a straight path perpendicular to the golfer, while the solid arc 120 represents the inward arc path followed by the putter head during an ideal long putt stroke. This inward arc path is also typically referred to as being an “inside-square-to-inside” arc. That is, in the backstroke 121, the putter head will be “inside” line 100 (i.e., closer to the golfer), and in the follow-through stroke 122, the putter head will also be inside line 100. At the point of contact 123 between the putter face and the ball, the face of the putter should be “square” to the ball - meaning that face of the putter should strike the ball when the face is in a plane perfectly perpendicular to the intended path of the ball, as represented by line 123.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view depicting the pendulum or “upward” arc path followed by the putter head. Here, the view is looking toward the front of the golfer (that is, looking directly at him). In the backstroke 121 and in the follow-through stroke 122, the putter head is lifted upward from the plane of the ground 100. At its apex 123 (the point at which the putter strikes the ball, and the lowest portion of the swing), the putter face is again square to the ball.

It is the combination of the two arcs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that constitutes the perfect putting stroke. The stroke is natural, smooth, reproducible, and imparts the proper overhead spin to the ball. That is, when a putt is stroked perfectly, the struck ball rolls with a spin that is aligned in the direction of travel of the ball. The ball rolls smoothly, without any “side-spin” or off-direction spin. The perfect putting stroke does not impart any sideways spin (hook spin or slice spin) to the putted ball. To achieve the proper overhead spin, the putter face must strike the ball square at point 123 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The invention is directed to a device that teaches the muscle memory needed to “groove” this ideal putting stroke.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the golf putting apparatus 10 comprises a base 12, a curved rail 14 attached to the base via supports 18, a carriage 16 movably attached to the curved rail 14, and a golf club fastener 20. As described in greater detail below (see FIG. 10), the fastener 20 comprises a first end 102 and a second end 104, wherein the first end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the carriage 16, and the second end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the head of a golf club 200, preferably a putter 30 (see FIG. 6).

The base 12 is preferably a flat, narrow, rectangular member, fabricated from any suitably stiff material such as metal, wood, plastic, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, the base 12 is preferably about 40 inches long, about 2.5 inches wide, and about ⅛ of an inch thick. However, the base 12 can be of any substantially rectangular size. For instance, the device may be fabricated in smaller dimensions to practice very short putts, or in larger dimensions for very long putts.

The curved rail 14 defines the partial circumference of a circle or an ellipse that is tilted so that its plane is not perpendicular to the plane of the base. This is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Note that in FIG. 4 the center of the curved rail (at its lowest point—where the carriage 16 is depicted in FIG. 4) passes very close to the edge of the base. The ends of the rail, where the supports 18 link the rail to the base, however, are well-removed from the edge of the base. In this fashion, the rail defines a circular or elliptical arc that is tilted toward the golfer when he addresses the device to execute a putt.

The curved rail itself is fabricated from a suitably stiff, suitably smooth material, such as a polished or brushed metal (aluminum or stainless steel are preferred) or a stiff plastic. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the curved rail preferably has a circular cross-section. The cross-section of the rail, however, is not critical to the operation of the invention. The rail can be fabricated in any suitable cross-sectional geometry, without limitation, e.g., circular, elliptical, triangular, square, polygonal, etc. The curved rail may also be solid (as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9) or hollow. In the preferred embodiment, the curved rail is fabricated from a solid bar of stainless steel, roughly ⅜th of an inch in diameter, that has been bent into the desired arc and polished.

For ease of manufacture, the supports 18 can be made from the same material as the curved rail 14, although this is not necessary. The supports can be made from any suitably stiff material, e.g., metal, plastic, wood, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, the supports are linked to the curved rail and to the support by welds, although any type of fastener (permanent or releasable) will suffice (screws, rivets, snaps, friction fittings, etc.)

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, the ends of the curved rail 14 are removed from the surface of the base 12, while the center of the curved rail passes very close both to the upper surface of the base, and to one of the long edges of the base. In this fashion, a golfer may swing a putter along the length of the rail without bumping the heel of the club into the base.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, a carriage, 16 is mounted slidably to the curved rail 14. Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the carriage 16 is preferably a cylinder whose inner diameter/inner surface complements the outer diameter/outer surface of the curved rail 14. So that the carriage slides smoothly along the length of the curved rail, a low-friction bushing 17 may be included, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The low-friction bushing 17 can be made of any suitable low-friction material, such as felt or other cloth, nylon, polytetrafluorethylene (e.g., Teflon-brand polymer), and the like. Alternatively, and preferred, the carriage may include a ball-bearing assembly 17′ disposed within its inner circumference, in contact with the curved rail 14. A ball-bearing assembly is preferred because it is long-lasting, provides an extremely low-friction interface between the carriage 16 and the curved rail 14, and is very nearly silent in operation.

It is preferred that the carriage 16 be fabricated from a ferromagnetic material, such as stainless steel. In other embodiments, the carriage may be made from any suitably stiff material, such as metal or plastic.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 11, a golf club 30 (see FIG. 6) is releasably attached to the carriage 16 via a golf club fastener 20 which is attached to the head 200 of the golf club. The fastener 20 has two ends: a first end 102 dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the carriage 16, and a second end 104, dimensioned and configured to engage the head 200 of the golf club 30. If the carriage 16 is ferromagnetic, the first end 102 of the fastener is preferably a magnetic. In this fashion, first end 102 of the fastener 20 will be magnetically adhered to the carriage 16. Alternatively, the first end 102 of the fastener may be a hook-and-eye type closure, such as a Velcro-brand closure, a snap, a button, an adhesive coating, and the like. If a non-magnetic fastener is used, a mating closure, 19, as shown in FIG. 9, must be provided on the carriage 16. The magnetic arrangement is preferred.

The second end 104 of the fastener 20 may also comprise a magnet if the head 200 of the golf club to be used with the invention is ferromagnetic. Because many putter heads are made from aluminum and other non-magnetic alloys, the second end 104 of the fastener may also comprise a hook-and-eye fastener or a simple strip of adhesive capable of firmly adhering the second end 104 of the fastener 20 to the head 200 of a golf club.

As shown in FIG. 11, with the fastener 20 attached at its second end to the head of a putter, the first end of the fastener can be releasibly attached to the carriage 16. Now, the user assumes a standard putting stance, as if addressing the ball. The motion of the club head 200 will be constrained by the motion of the carriage 16 along the curved rail 14 to follow the perfect putting arc. This can be done with or without a ball. Through repetitive practice, the perfect putting stroke is engrained into the user's muscle memory. The club head is also held in a square position throughout the putting stroke, thereby producing the desired smooth roll of the golf ball.

When practicing with a ball, the leading edge of the base 12 is aligned with the desired target, i.e., an actual golf hole, a pre-determined spot on the floor, etc.. The base 12 may also contain at least one ball placement marker or indicia 36 to indicate to the golfer where to place the ball 40 (see FIG. 6). The ball 40 is preferably placed on the ground adjacent to the base 12. The base 12 may also contain a pair of movable foot stance markers, color codes for distance control, mirrors, or other indicia 38, indicating the proper position of a golfer's feet, eyes, shoulders, club head, etc., in relation to the base 12.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a second version of the invention. Here, rather than a single curved rail, the swing trainer 10′ includes two matched curved rails 14 and 14′. The supports 18, the base 12, and the golf club fastener 20 are the same as in the first version of the invention, described earlier. As shown in FIG. 13, however, the carriage 16′ is a two-lobed member that is fixed slidably between curved rails 14 and 14′. In this fashion, the carriage 16′ will follow the curved arc defined by the two curved rails, 14 and 14′. In all other aspects, the second version of the invention functions in the same fashion as the first version of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, which illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. In the third version, rather then using curved rails to guide the putter head, the trainer comprises a monolithic body 60 (formed from metal, plastic, wood, or other suitably stiff material), having a pair of channels or grooves 62 defined therein. The body 60 may be attached to a base (as in the previous embodiments) or the base may be designed as a free-standing unit. Referring specifically to FIG. 16, a carriage 16 is provided that includes a pair of posts 64 that are dimensioned and configured to matingly and slidingly engage the channels 62 in the base 60. A golf club fastener 20, as described previously, is also provided. (See FIG. 10). In the same fashion as in the previous embodiments, the golf club fastener links a head of a golf club 200 to the carriage 16.

The 60 and the channels 62 formed therein define the partial circumference of a circle or an ellipse that is tilted so that its plane is not perpendicular to the plane of the base. (See also FIGS. 3 and 4). The carriage 16 is matingly and slidingly linked to the body via posts 64 that engage the channels 62. In this fashion, the carriage can slide quite easily along the entire length of the channels 62. The third embodiment of the invention is thus employed in the same fashion as the first two embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating the use of the apparatus 10 and 10′ of the present invention. In use, a golfer positions the base 12 on any substantially flat surface so that one end of the curved rail 14 is aligned with the desired target (not shown). Then, the golfer engages the golf club fastener 20 to the head 200 of a golf club 30 at the club's heel end. If a golf ball 40 is being used, the golfer may position the ball 40 in position on the ground adjacent to the base 12. In a preferred version, the ball 40 is aligned with the ball placement marker 36 on the leading edge of the base 12. The ball placement marker 36 is preferably positioned just in front of the midpoint 15 of the curved rail 14. However, a golf ball 40 does not need to be used; the golfer can simply practice the proper putting stroke without hitting a ball 40.

The golfer then assumes the proper stance, placing his or her feet on the ground in the positions noted by the foot placement markers 38 on the base 12. Then, the golf club fastener 20, already engaged to the golf club 30, is releasably engaged to at least a portion of the carriage 16. As noted earlier, in the preferred version of the invention, the first end 102 of the golf club fastener 20 comprises a magnet, and engages the carriage 16 using magnetic forces. At this point, the golfer is standing substantially perpendicular to the base 12, holding a golf club 30, which is releasably engaged with the carriage 16 via the golf club fastener 20. The golfer then putts as he would naturally. The head 200 of the golf club is then forced to follow the curved arc 14, thereby “grooving” the proper putting stroke. In this manner, the golfer practices and learns all aspects of a proper putting stroke.

As mentioned above, the golf putting training apparatus 10 of the present invention may be used with and without a ball 40. Any standard golf ball 40 may be used. The golf putting training apparatus 10 of the present invention may also be used with any golf club 30. While in a preferred version the golf club 30 is a putter with a metallic head, the apparatus 10 may also be used with any sized golfclub 30. Further, if a non-magnetic golf-club fastener 20 is used, the apparatus 10 of the present invention may still be used with any golf club 30.

It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the claims.

-   -   What is claimed is: 

1. A golf swing training apparatus comprising, in combination: a base; at least one curved rail attached to the base; a carriage movably attached to the curved rail; and a fastener having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage the carriage, and the second end of the fastener is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage a golf club.
 2. The training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curved rail is secured to a portion of the base.
 3. The training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curved rail defines an arcuate path.
 4. The training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carriage comprises a substantially hollow cylinder dimensioned and configured to movably engage at least a portion of the curved rail.
 5. The training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carriage further comprises a ball bearing configured to movably engage the curved rail.
 6. The training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the golf club fastener comprises a magnet.
 7. The training apparatus of claim 6 wherein the golf club fastener releasably engages the carriage and putter using magnetic forces.
 8. The training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the golf club fastener releasably engages the carriage and putter using a connector.
 9. The training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one support holding at least a portion of the curved rail above the base.
 10. The training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one ball placement marker disposed on the base.
 11. The training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of foot stance markers disposed on the base.
 12. The training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more color labels disposed on the base or on the curved rail.
 13. The training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more mirrors disposed on the base.
 14. The training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a string or a laser affixed thereto to align the base with a desired target.
 15. A golf training apparatus comprising: a substantially flat base; a curved rail attached to a portion of the base; at least one support attached to the curved rail and the base; a carriage movably attached to the curved rail, wherein the carriage is dimensioned and configured to releasably engage a golf club fastener; and a golf club fastener dimensioned and configured to releasably engage a golf club to the carriage.
 16. The training apparatus of claim 15 wherein the curved rail is disposed in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the base.
 17. The golf training apparatus of claim 15 wherein the carriage comprises a substantially hollow cylinder dimensioned and configured to movably engage at least a portion of the curved rail.
 18. The golf training apparatus of claim 15 wherein the carriage further comprises a ball bearing dimensioned and configured to movably engage at least a portion of the curved rail.
 19. The training apparatus of claim 15 wherein the golf club fastener is a magnet.
 20. The training apparatus of claim 19 wherein the golf club fastener releasably engages the carriage and golf club using magnetic forces.
 21. The training apparatus of claim 15 wherein the golf club fastener releasably engages the carriage and golf club using a connector.
 22. The training apparatus of claim 15 further comprising at least one foot placement marker disposed on the base.
 23. The training apparatus of claim 15 further comprising at least one ball placement marker disposed on the base.
 24. The training apparatus of claim 15 further comprising one or more color labels disposed on the base or on the curved rail.
 25. The training apparatus of claim 15 further comprising one or more mirrors disposed on the base.
 26. The training apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a string or a laser affixed thereto to align the base with a desired target. 